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A scheme to restore habitats at a nature reserve has been handed £750,000.

The money will be used to fund a two-year project in Druridge Bay on the Northumberland coast.

The project, overseen by Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT), is being funded by the government and National Lottery’s Species Survival Fund.

Duncan Hutt, NWT’s director of conservation, said it hoped to restore several habitats to aid species recovery.

One such restoration involves the reed beds in East Chivington, he said.

These are particularly important for birds such as the Marsh Harrier which use them to nest in.

New wetlands will also be created to help crested newts and amphibians.

Both the reed beds and new wetlands will hopefully see the return of water voles to the region, said Mr Hutt.

“They are one of Britain’s most threatened animals,” he said. “It won’t happen immediately but in we hope to see their return.”

Another major project will involve the restructuring of woodlands in the area which were created after the end of opencast mining.

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